Venue

The 9th IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Systems will take place in Pestana Casino Park Hotel. This is a 5-star hotel in Funchal, Madeira, surrounded by 15,000 m² of private gardens. Its privileged location on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean makes it one of the most famous hotels on the island of Madeira. It features an infinity swimming pool, gardens with peaceful alcoves, a private car park available for a fee, a Spa where you can schedule a massage and/or Magic Spa treatment, and an indoor swimming pool with water jets, jacuzzi, Turkish bath, sauna and gym.

You can enjoy four restaurants and bars with views overlooking the tennis court and access to the Casino da Madeira, with games, shows and a nightclub. All rooms have Wi-Fi and a private balcony.

The Pestana Casino Park has the best conditions to receive large groups, conventions, congresses, seminars, meetings and social and gala events. It seems like a touch of megalomania, but it is the best way to present reality: with 14 meeting rooms within the building, with different areas for coffee breaks, break out rooms and use of public space. The conference floor has 2 large multi-purpose rooms that allow you a more private access and use of the spaces, as well as a terrace, ideal for coffee breaks overlooking the sea and gardens.

Accommodation

Funchal is famous for its outstanding and pleasant hotel accommodation. The conference is organized right in the city centre with an easy access to all major sights, shops and the ocean.

- Pestana Casino Park(Conference Venue)Pestana Casino Park Hotel is one of the cultural icons of Madeira, designed by the great master of world architecture Oscar Niemeyer. Very concerned with the integration of the hotel in the Funchal Bay area - and fabulous garden-island - it is an amazing space, full of curves, which makes your stay in Madeira absolutely unforgettable.

- Pestana Carlton Hotel(Ocean resort)Pestana Carlton Madeira is a 5 star fabulous hotel with two huge outdoor swimming pools and direct access to the Atlantic. After all, with access to both fresh and salt water, with the mountain on its back, the bay side and the shade of palm trees, there is no doubt that paradise is here.

Travelling

Madeira International Airport in Santa Cruz is the main gateway to the region and is used regularly by the main European airlines.

It takes around 1hr 30 min to fly from Madeira to any of the Portuguese airports and a little over three hours approximately, to get to some of the main airports in the centre of Europe.

How to get from the airport to Funchal

- ShuttleThe Aerobus departs from the Arrivals area towards Funchal City center, with stops near several hotels for your convenience. And if your flight is delayed, the Aerobus will wait for you, for up to a maximum of one hour. The trip takes around 30 minutes. Prices: One way ticket - 5€; Round Trip - 8€.

- TaxiYou can also take a taxi to Funchal city center (where most of the hotels are located), and the trip is around 30-35€ (click the image).

- BusWith the exception of 25 December, there are several buses available to various destinations on the island. Get to know the routes and choose what suits you best (Price: Airport - Funchal 3.35€). Schedules: http://www.sam.pt/informacoes-aerobus.html.

About Madeira & Funchal

Madeira offers not only an all year-round summer climate and wonderful fauna and flora - Madeira is also virtually crime free and one of the safest holiday destinations in the world!

From wonderful parks and gardens with exotic flowers to seascapes with blue ocean, and towering cliffs to rustic villages in quiet valleys to seriously good views and sheer mountains.

Funchal is a modern, cosmopolitan, rejuvenated city, well known for its many top class restaurants, stunning new 4 & 5 star hotels and warm all year-round climate and of course its most famous export, world class footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

The city itself is nestled in a great natural amphitheatre, facing the blue Atlantic with a backdrop of dramatic mountains. Located in the stunning south of Madeira, on its sunniest coast amidst banana plantations and wonderful gardens where flowers bloom all year round in the shelter of the verdant mountains, it is an extremely lush, green and relaxed city by day but scratch Funchal’s surface and you will find it to have a vibrant and varied nightlife scene with multiple personalities.

Funchal’s history goes back over 5 centuries when early Portuguese settlers colonised the coast of a bright and sunny bay where fennel (funcho) grew in abundance, giving its name to the new town of Funchal. Over the years, the population grew, with international trade attracting the attention of all of Europe.